Now in its ninth year, the Sunshine Coast Art Prize has achieved national acclaim for its annual representation of contemporary Australian art.

Community Programs Portfolio Councillor Jenny McKay said the Sunshine Coast Art Prize is one of the richest art prizes in Australia and continues to attract work from some of the best contemporary and emerging artists our nation has to offer.

“The Sunshine Coast Art Prize is open to any Australian resident working in Australia in a two dimensional (2D) medium, with the winner receiving $15,000,” Cr McKay said.

“Sunshine Coast Art Prize is produced by Sunshine Coast Council to encourage artistic excellence and to bring quality artwork to a regional audience.”

Division 2 Councillor Tim Dwyer said the award provides a distinguished contribution to the national art calendar and culminates in an exhibition of the 40 finalists at Caloundra Regional Gallery from August 27 to October 26.

“A selection of the finalists’ entries will also be available for purchase on the final day of the exhibition at the Sunshine Coast Art Prize Auction which will be held on Sunday, October 26 at 2pm,” Cr Dwyer said.

He said the Art Prize was, for the first time, launching a New Media category which is open to any emerging artist, in the first five years of their practise, who resides in the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area and is aged 15 to 30 years.

“The New Media category opens on April 1 and closes on June 9, with an application fee of $20 for any two dimensional artwork including photography, video, animation and projection with an emphasis on innovative digital technologies. Ten finalists will be chosen to be exhibited at Caloundra Regional Gallery in February 2015,” Cr Dwyer said.

In addition to the top Sunshine Coast Art Prize awards, other prizes include:

A non-acquisitive ‘Highly Commended’ prize of $2,500.

A non-acquisitive People’s Choice prize of $2,500 which will be awarded to the artist who receives the most votes from visitors to the Sunshine Coast Art Prize exhibition.

Sunshine Coast Art Prize online entries opened Monday, February 24 and close 5pm on Monday, April 7.

The Prize exhibition will open two days after the inaugural Caloundra Friends of the Gallery Art Prize, Local Artists Local Content finalist exhibition closes.

The new exhibition to the local arts calendar will showcase talented local artists and the beautiful Sunshine Coast region when it goes on display from July 9 to August 24 at the Caloundra Regional Gallery.

Council partnered with the Friends Regional Gallery Caloundra Inc. award and exhibition because it achieved an important synergy with council’s Sunshine Coast Art Prize - a local focus within a nationally recognised art competition.

For details on these two exciting Arts Prizes, including the terms and conditions, visit council’s gallery website.